Envelope for packaging ladies&#39; stockings



May 23, 1967 P. G. HARMON ENVELOPE FOR PACKAGING LADIES STOCKINGS 5Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Iii-72.4

INVENTORv 44 770fl/VEYJ.

r Ferry 6? 591M011, QJ6ZJ May 23, 1967 P. G. HARMON ENVELOPE FORPACKAGING LADIES' STOCKINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Filed Oct. 22, 1965 FIG-.13

a w M 8 MP? n m l H 5 6 I 1 .H I I 6 6 mm m a I H ,J m H M 3 w 0 Q QINVENTOR. Herr] 645471711017,

A TTORNEYJ.

y 3, 1967 P. G. HARMON 3,321,069

ENVELOPE FOR PACKAGING LADIES STOCKINGS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 51 FIG; 16

FTC-72.17..

I N VEN TOR.

ikny 6515671712012,

United States Patent 3,321,069 ENVELOPE FOR PACKAGING LADIES STOCKINGSPerry G. Harmon, Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor t0 Hanes Corporation,Winston-Salem, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Oct. 22,1265, Ser. No. 501,892 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-4531) This invention relatesgenerally to envelopes and particularly to an improved envelope forpackaging ladies stockings.

Ladies stockings are commonly packaged in envelopes having transparentpanels and stacked in racks for display in retail stores. The customermay remove a package from a stack, examine its contents through thetransparent panels and then return the package to the stack. Naturally,the properietor does not want the customer to have trouble removing apackage from the stack or returning it after its contents is inspected.Nevertheless, such troubles are not uncommon, and when they occur, thedisplay is left in disarray by the customer. Normally, the heavy paperblank out of which the package is formed has straight edges which definea large rectangular transparent panel through which the stockings may beinspected. The edges extending across the package tend to bulge or bowoutwardly, giving rise to difficulties in removing packages from a stackthereof and in replacing them.

Accordingly, an important object of the invention is to provide animproved rectangular, flat package of the type having a transparentpanel and used for packaging ladies stockings.

Another object is to provide such a package which facilitates theinitial stacking of a group thereof tightly in a rack and whichfacilitates returning to the stack a package removed therefrom forinspection.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent when the followingdescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view looking at the back of a packageembodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a rack loaded with packages embodyingthe present invention and with packages constructed in accordance withthe prior art;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the rack shown in FIGURE FIGURE 4 is a viewlooking at the front of a prior art package;

FIGURE 5 is a view looking at the back of the package shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section on line VI-VI in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are diagrammatic illustrations of sections respectivelyon lines VIIVII and VIII-VIII in FIGURE 6;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are diagrammatic illustrations of sections respectivelyon lines IX-IX and X-Xin FIG- URE 6; 7

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged section on line XI-XI in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 12 and 13 are diagrammatic illustrations of sectionsrespectively on lines XII-XII and XIII-XIII in FIGURE 11;

FIGURES l4 and 15 are diagrammatic illustrations of sectionsrespectively on lines XIV-XIV and XV-XV in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 16 is a view looking at the back of a modified envelope; and

FIGURE 17 is a view looking at the back of another modified envelope.

prior art The following description is directed to the specificembodiment of the invention shown in the drawings and is not addressedto the scope of the invention, which may be practiced in a variety offorms.

The packages are displayed in a wire rack, generally designated 10. Therack is provided with opposite side members 12, each of which has a foreleg 14 terminating in a turned up foot 16 and a hind leg 18 terminatingin a turned up foot 20. Extending transversely of the rack are acrossbar 22 opposite end portions of which are affixed respectively tothe feet 16 and a crossbar 26 opposite end portions of which are affixedrespectively to the feet 20. Also extending transversely of the rack area pair of crossbars 24 each of which has opposite end portions affixedrespectively to the legs 18.

The rack is provided with a series of members 23, 34aa', and 38, each ofwhich is of inverted U-shape. The member 28 has lateral extensions 30which terminate in turned up portions 32 afiixed to the bar 22. Themembers 28, 34a-d and 38 are afiixed to each other serially by means oflateral extensions, designated 36a-d and 40. The member 38 is afiixed tothe crossbars 24. The member 340 is seated upon and aflixed to thecrossbar 26. The members 28, 34a-d, and 38 are disposed respectively inrearwardly inclined parallel planes. Affixed to each of the side members12 is a decorative piece 42. Extending upwardly from the crossbars 24 isa standard 44 which carries a plate 46. The members 28 and 34a-d form aseries of four compartments stacked with packages containing stockings.Two of the stacks, designated A and B, contain packages constructed inaccordance with the prior art, and two of the stacks, designated C andD, con tain packages constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 4 through 10, the envelope of a priorart package, designated 48, is formed of a heavy flexible paper blank,generally designated 50. The blank is provided with a rectangular frontpanel 52 having a diamond shaped cut out 54. On each side of the panel52 is a side flap 56 folded under the panel 52. At the bottom of thepanel 52 is a lower flap 58, and at the top of the panel 52 is an upperflap 60. The flaps 58 and 60 are folded over the side flaps 56. Theinterior of the envelope is lined with a transparent cellophane sheet 62containing a pair of stockings 64. The cutout 54 defines a. fronttransparent panel 66, and the inner edges of the flaps 56, 58 and 60define a large rear transparent panel 68. The lower edge '70 of theupper flap 60 is straight and is provided with a recess affording afinger hold 72. It will be noted that the straight edge bulgesoutwardly, as at 74, and that the upper edge 76 of the lower flap 58 isstraight and bulges outwardly, as at '78. It will also be noted that themutually overly ing end portions of the flaps 56, 58' and 60 areadhesively secured together and that the transparent lining 62 isadhesively secured in position within the blank 50. How ever, noadhesive is applied in the area of the finger hold '72, and no adhesiveis applied to the flap 58, between the flaps 56.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 6 to 10, normally no difficulty isexperienced in removing a package 48a from a stack A or B of packages.However, difficulty may be experienced when replacing the package 48a.

When a package 48a is removed, the lower edge 70 of its upper flap 6t}-and the upper edge 76 of its lower flap 58 bulge or bow outwardly due tothe presence of the enclosed pair of stockings. Normally, no difficultyis experienced in reinserting the package 48a until it is almost fullyreinserted between the adjacent packages 48b and 480. At this point, thepackages 48b and 480 are separated somewhat by the package 48a and theedge 76 of the package 481) bulges or bows outwardly and thereby formsan obstruction, as shown in FIGURE 8, which must be cleared by thebottom of the package 48a. In addition, the outwardly bulging or bowededge '70 of the package 48a forms an obstruction, as shown in FIGURE 7,which must clear the top of the package 48c. Thus the customer mayexperience difficulty in returning the package 48a neatly to its stack.

In the event that the rearmost package 48d is removed from the stack,difiiculty may be experienced by reason of the edge 76 of the packagebulging or bowing outwardly sufliciently to catch under the horizontallyextending portion of the member 340.

Normally, the packages all face forwardly, but occasionally one isreplaced facing in the wrong direction. In this event, when the packageadjacent to and in front of the one facing in the wrong direction isremoved from the stack, the package facing in the wrong direction tendsto be removed also by reason of its edge '70 bulging or bowing outwardlysuificiently to catch over the edge '76 of the package which is beingremoved from the stack.

All of these difficulties constitute nuisances which it is desirable toavoid for the sake of all concerned.

Now referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 11 to 15, the envelope of a packageconstructed in accordance with the invention, generally designated 80,is formed of a heavy flexible paper blank, generally designated 82. Theblank 82 is provided with a rectangular front panel 84 having an ovalshaped cutout 8 6. On each side of the panel 84 is a flap 88 foldedunder the panel. At the lower end of the panel is a flap 90, and at theupper end is a flap 92. The flaps 90 and 92 are folded over the sideflaps 88. Within the blank is a transparent cellophane lining 94containing a pair of stockings 96. The cutout 8d defines a transparentpanel 98, and the side flaps 88 and lower and upper flaps 90 and 92define a large transparent panel 100. It will be noted that the loweredge 102 of the upper flap is curved and that it bulges outwardly, as at106, and that the upper edge 108 of the lower flap is curved and bulgesoutwardly, as at 110. The mutually overlying portions of the flaps 88,90 and 92 are adhesively secured together and the transparent lining isadhesively secured in position within the blank 82, all in substantiallythe same manner as in the prior art package, and it will be particularlynoted that no adhesive is applied under the marginal portion of the flap92, between the side flaps 88, and that no adhesive is applied to theflap 90, between the side flaps 88.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 11 to 15, the difficulties which maybe experienced with the prior art packages are eliminated by thepackages constructed in accordance with the invention.

When a package 80a is removed, the lower edge 102 of the upper flap 92,and the upper edge 108 of the lower flap 90 bulge'or 'bow outwardly dueto the presence of the enclosed pair of stockings. When the package 80ais almost fully reinserted between the packages 8% and Me, the packages8% and 800 are separated somewhat by the package 80a and the edge 108 ofthe package 80b bulges or bows outwardly and thereby forms anobstruction, as shown in FIGURE 13, which must be cleared by the bottomof the package 80a. In addition, the outwardly bulging or bowed edge 102of the package 80a forms an obstruction, as shown in FIGURE 12, whichmust clear the top of the package 800.

With regard to the former obstruction, the bottom of the package 80aeasily clears the opposite end portions of the flap 90 because these areadhesively secured to the flaps 88. Once the upper edges of theseportions, desig nated 108a, are cleared, the bottom of the package 80ais cammed over the flap 90 by the curved edge 108.

With regard to the latter obstruction, the top of the package 800 iseasily cleared by the opposite end portions of the fla-p92 because theseare adhesively secured to the flaps 88. Once the lower edges of theseportions, designated 102a, clear, the flap 92 is cammed past the top ofthe package 800 by the curved edge 102.

The same camming action avoids any difiicu-lty in removing the rearmostpackage d from the stack, and in removing a package when the adjacentpackage to the rear thereof has been placed in the stack with wrong faceforward.

Although the lower edge 102 of the upper flap and the upper edge 108 ofthe lower flap are shown and described as being curved, it will beunderstood that these edges may be V-shaped, 'as at 116 in FIGURE 16, orstraight, as at 114 in FIGURE 17.

What is claimed is:

1. In an envelope for packaging shallow-depth articles such as ladiesstockings, the combination comprising a heavy flexible paper blankhaving a substantially rectangular front panel, a pair of flapsextending from said panel and folded back respectively under oppositesides of said panel, a pair of flaps extending from said panel andfolded back respectively under the top and bottom of said panel and oversaid side flaps, the mutually overlying portions of said flaps beingadhesively secured together, the portions of said top and bottom flapsextending between said side flaps being smoothly, gradually varied inwidth, and being of maximum width at the inner edge of at least one ofsaid side flaps and of less than maximum width at all points betweensaid side flaps, a shallow-depth article within said folded blank, and asheet of transparent material within said folded blank extending acrossa large opening defined by said flaps and interposed between said flapsand shallow-depth article, the inner marginal portion of at least one ofsaid top and bottom flaps between said side flaps being free ofattachment to said transparent sheet material to facilitate opening saidenvelope.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the portions of said topand bottom flaps extendingbetween said side flaps are of maximum widthat the inner edges of both side flaps.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the portions of theinner edges of the top and bottom flaps extending between the side flapsare coincident with large radius curved lines.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the portions of theinner edges of the top and bottom flaps extending between the side flapsare V-shaped.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the portions of theinner edges of the top and bottom flaps extending between the side flapsare straight.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the outer edge of thetop flap and the portion of the inner edge of the top flap extendingbetween the side flaps are non-parallel and the outer edge of the bottomflap and the portion of the inner edge of the bottom flap extendingbetween the side flaps are non-parallel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,375 4/1930Tanner 22971 1,875,804 9/1932 Dicicco 229-68 2,021,620 11/1935 Weir22968 3,040,877 6/1962 Chidsey 20645.31

FOREIGN PATENTS 826,044 12/1959 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner.

1. IN AN ENVELOPE FOR PACKAGING SHALLOW-DEPTH ARTICLES SUCH AS LADIES''STOCKINGS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A HEAVY FLEXIBLE PAPER BLANKHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRONT PANEL, A PAIR OF FLAPSEXTENDING FROM SAID PANEL AND FOLDED BACK RESPECTIVELY UNDER OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID PANEL, A PAIR OF FLAPS EXTENDING FROM SAID PANEL ANDFOLDED BACK RESPECTIVELY UNDER THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID PANEL AND OVERSAID SIDE FLAPS, THE MUTUALLY OVERLYING PORTIONS OF SAID FLAPS BEINGADHESIVELY SECURED TOGETHER, THE PORTIONS OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM FLAPSEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE FLAPS BEING SMOOTHLY, GRADUALLY VARIED INWIDTH, AND BEING OF MAXIMUM WIDTH AT THE INNER EDGE OF AT LEAST ONE OFSAID SIDE FLAPS AND OF LESS THAN MAXIMUM WIDTH AT ALL POINTS BETWEENSAID SIDE FLAPS, A SHALLOW-DEPTH ARTICLE WITHIN SAID FOLDED BLANK, AND ASHEET OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL WITHIN SAID FOLDED BLANK EXTENDING ACROSSA LARGE OPENING DEFINED BY SAID FLAPS AND INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLAPSAND SHALLOW-DEPTH ARTICLE, THE INNER MARGINAL PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE OFSAID TOP AND BOTTOM FLAPS BETWEEN SAID SIDE FLAPS BEING FREE OFATTACHMENT TO SAID TRANSPARENT SHEET MATERIAL TO FACILITATE OPENING SAIDENVELOPE.